Trump’s Wildly Un-American & Racist Remarks Define Republican Party Values, Not Ryan Policy Agenda
As Speaker Paul Ryan rolls out his 2017-focused “policy” white papers, Reps. Ben Ray Luján, Steve Israel, Linda Sánchez and Dan Kildee today highlighted the real Republican agenda, being set by Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Trump’s most recent racist commentary towards Mexican-Americans & Muslims is not only shockingly offensive, but clearly defines who the Republicans are as a party, putting their ugly politics over voters. House Republicans may specifically decry Trump’s comments on Judge Curiel, but their willingness to stand by the Republican nominee and his racist remarks lays their party’s un-American values bare.
“The real Republican agenda is being set by Donald Trump – driven by racism and backwards policies. Because of their unwavering support of Donald Trump, House Republicans are guilty as charged. Shame on them,” said DCCC Chair, Congressman Ben Ray Luján. “The Donald Trump-House Republican ticket will hit them where it hurts: in the suburbs, with female, nonwhite, well-educated and independent voters.”
Specifically citing Congressman Lee Zeldin’s comments about President Obama as an example of Trump damage in swing districts, Luján continued, “Clearly, Congressman Lee Zeldin is taking his marching orders from Donald Trump…Not only are these comments ridiculous and offensive, but Lee Zeldin makes them at his own in political peril. Zeldin represents a district that voted to elect President Obama in both 2008 and 2012.”
“What’s happening with House Republicans is the most breathtaking example of trying to have your cake and eat it too that I’ve ever seen in politics. You do not get to condemn and endorse Donald Trump at the same time. It’s one or the other. Paul Ryan cannot say that Donald Trump is a textbook racist and continue to endorse a textbook racist. We’re going to use every tool in our toolbox to call Republicans out,” said DPCC Chair, Congressman Steve Israel.
“Republicans continue to stand with Trump, which means that the Republican Party is destroying any appeal that they could possibly have with the Latino community… The message that Donald Trump and the Republican party are delivering to the Latino community is that it doesn’t matter if you were born here in the United States and are a citizen, it doesn’t matter that you worked hard and excelled academically, or that you had a successful career as a prosecutor and a judge. The only thing that matters in his eyes, and the Republican party’s eyes, is the color of your skin and your heritage,” said CHC Chair, Congresswoman Linda Sánchez.
“Make no mistake – Donald Trump, not Paul Ryan, is the leader of the Republican Party. And standing by their leader, the values of Republicans in Congress and Donald Trump are one in the same,” said DCCC Frontline Chair, Congressman Dan Kildee. “They may not have said it with such fanfare as Donald Trump, but Republicans in Congress hold the same extreme views as their presidential nominee.”